Disclaimer: I still don't own anything after over two years or something of writing fanfiction...SO BACK OFF, LAWYERS!
Hey yall! I'm going to be trying to update more frequently. I am more in a writing mood. I think a lot of my regular reviewers died...but who knows. .; Anyways, enjoy the chapter! This one goes out to Sarah. You are a mama! (in a good way!) Over. (Homes Depot LOL!)
Ahem. ON WITH THE FIC!
---
Wednesday was spent searching high and low for Chi-Chi. Shadows of dread and worry loomed on Goku's face. As Piccolo studied his face, he realized that Goku reminded him of himself. The same shadows dwelled on his face ever since Karina had gone missing. Piccolo swallowed. The hollow pit in his stomach was always there. But now, he felt it with new vigor. He felt almost as if it had been his fault for Chi-Chi's disappearance. He knew it had been the same men who had taken Karina. But what reason did they have? 'To cause more suffering..' Piccolo thought in silence. 'Those sick bastards.' Piccolo growled and stopped at a stop sign. He was with Bulma and Vegeta. Goku had gone with 18 and Krillin. They had all split up (Piccolo's group to the south end of town, and Goku's to the north) to search and didn't want to let the other girls out of sight.
It wasn't that they didn't trust Krillin or Vegeta to take care of their women alone, since they could of split into three groups instead of two (Goku and Piccolo, Krillin and 18, and Vegeta and Bulma.). Well, Krillin maybe. But they knew Vegeta could handle anything fairly easily. But they didn't want to take any chances. Besides, two pairs of eyes were better than one.
"This is pointless.." Piccolo growled after slamming the door shut and starting the car in the Happy Basket Southern Grocery Store parking lot. "Why are we searching the grocery stores? Sure she went to one, but it's way too damn late to catch the guy now."
Bulma sighed, "Well what are we supposed to do? We've been keeping an eye open for her car, well, my car, but so far no luck. There isn't much we can do.."
"Well maybe we should just give up." Piccolo said simply. He drove out of the parking lot. The car buzzed with silence.
Bulma suddenly growled, "If it had been Karina who was abducted just last night you wouldn't even think about saying "let's just give up." You would be searching like mad no matter how slim the chances were!"
Piccolo felt a painful twinge shoot through him, as if someone had tugged on a heartstring. "Okay, okay.." He said softly. "Sorry." He watched the stoplight go green and took a left turn. "We have one more store to check. I guess we can maybe find some clue about where she might of gone if we search well like we did the others."
---
"Find anything?" Krillin called, standing on the heated black asphalt of the parking lot. Goku shook his head from the other end.
18 shrugged and called, "Nothing over here."
"Guess that's it..." Krillin sighed and headed toward the car. 18 followed. Goku frowned softly. He walked slowly back toward the car. He felt like he had been in slow motion from the moment Piccolo told him Chi-Chi had never returned last night. He remembered that he had been mad at first.
FLASH
"She didn't come back!?" Goku said, looking at Piccolo, his face panic-stricken, "Why didn't you wake me up!?"
"Hell, I didn't know!" Piccolo growled, holding his hands up. "Bulma just called and said, "Chi-Chi never came back last night." Blame her, not me!"
Goku growled softly, "So all of you just went to bed and didn't even wait for her to get back!? Give me the phone, I'm calling Bulma."
"Hey, I was expecting her to go home to the sorority when she was done shopping, not here, anyway."
Goku didn't pay attention, quickly dialing the number to the sorority house. Another girl answered. "Is Bulma there?" Goku asked impatiently. "Good, get her on the phone. This is Goku."
A pause. "BULMA, why the hell didn't you call me as soon as Chi-Chi didn't show up after a while?!"
He listened. "YOU WENT TO BED!? Chi-Chi hadn't even gotten home yet and you were sleeping!? Why didn't you wait until she got home?!"
Goku looked like he had just been slugged in the face with a bag of bricks. "I-I...I didn't think..." His anger flared. Piccolo blinked and stepped back, feeling Goku's power level surge. "HEY I WENT TO SLEEP RIGHT AFTER SHE LEFT! I HAD NO CLUE SHE WOULDN'T COME BACK! AND NO ONE EVEN THINKS TO WAKE ME UP BEFORE THEY RUN OFF TO BED! YOU ALL ARE IDIOTS!"
He slammed the phone down. Glaring at Piccolo, he pointed his finger, "YOU SHOULD OF WOKEN ME UP!"
Piccolo growled and grabbed Goku by the shirt, "CALM DOWN! if I had any clue that she wasn't coming home, I would of. But you looked like you were having a good dream, and I assumed you would wake up eventually on your own. It's not anybody's fault that she didn't come home except for whoever took her. So maybe you should stop blaming us, and start looking for an answer." He threw Goku back, releasing his shirt, growling softly. Goku stumbled back, looking dazed. He felt like he was in a dream. Everything seemed to slow with every beat of his heart. He sat back on the couch, staring numbly at the wall.
"Chi-Chi..." This reminded him of when Chi-Chi had been kidnapped by that psychotic Silvia bitch. Only now, he didn't feel an impending sense of doom and danger surging through his veins. Yet. He felt weighed down, shocked, and disbelieving. He swallowed and lifted his eyes to Piccolo, now devoid of anger, but stricken with sadness. "We have to find her, Piccolo."
FLASH
Goku swallowed roughly as he put his hand on the handle of the car door. He glanced to the side as he pulled it open, then looked into the car about to get in. Suddenly, something registered. He did a double take and looked back to where his eyes had traveled a moment before. There, sitting alone on the pavement was a small black purse. Then it clicked. He had seen that purse before.
He took off toward it, leaving the back door to Krillin's crappy beat up little Del Sol (A/N: I do not own that brand name) and Krillin and 18 blinked, looking back over their shoulders curiously to see what he was doing. He scooped the purse into his hand. Definitely Chi-Chi's. It even had her mini frying pan which she used for defense inside. He looked around hopelessly for clues, anything that may of given him a hint of where she was...
Nothing.
Goku sighed. All he had was that she was abducted in this parking lot. Nothing else. He wished he could sense her. He remembered last time when she had vanished, he could feel where she had been, and had been able to save her. But now he felt nothing but numbness. He couldn't save her this time.
---
Chi-Chi struggled madly to free herself from the ropes that bound her ankles and wrists. 'Those bastards! Tie me up then throw me in a different trunk, then leave me here, will they? Wait till I get my hands on them...' Though the struggling only seemed to make the ropes even more uncomfortable, rubbing and burning her skin, she still fought to get free madly. There was a heavy metal bat in the trunk with her. 'Ha! Those idiots...When I get free, I'll hold the bat ready, and when they open the trunk...BAM! Lights out.' She smirked. They'd never know what hit 'em.
Thirty minutes later she lay, panting and still. "What the hell are these ropes made of!?" She finally screamed in frustration. She had gotten no where. She blinked as suddenly the trunk popped open, and was blinded by the light of the sun. At first she had hoped it was the police, or even for a moment Goku, Piccolo, anyone. But no. The dark man that her eyes finally focused upon was strange to her...yet at the same time, oddly familiar.
"The thickest, strongest strands of man-made fiber on earth." He said.
Chi-Chi blinked in confusion, and then it dawned on her that he had answered her frustraited question. "Oh." She said, blankly.
"Not that we worry about you escaping." He said, his deep voice rolling smoothly. "Come now, time to join your friend."
Chi-Chi tilted her head questioningly. The man easily lifted her out of the trunk, and she was surprised at his gentleness. He set her carefully on her feet, then dug in his pocket. He pulled out a pocket knife, flipped it open, and sliced the bonds on her ankles. He picked up the rope and looked at the red blood on it. "Well, I see you've been struggling." He glanced at her bleeding ankles. "At least you are tired now, and won't be troublesome." Chi-Chi growled slightly, but knew she was exhausted now. Her legs shook as he led her inside a plain looking brick building. They immediately descended stairs. Chi-Chi felt dizzy. She had struggled to hard. She slowly made her way down the steps. The man didn't push her to go faster.
Chi-Chi finally stepped onto even ground and the man pushed her softly to a door in the plain looking room. A battered fridge, TV, and couch seemed to be the only furniture inside. There were two doors. He led her to the one nearest the TV. The stairs descended straight into the room's corner. The man pulled the door open and wordlessly slashed the bonds on Chi-Chi's wrists, making her blink in surprise as her arms suddenly felt free, pushed her in, then shut the door. She heard the door click locked behind her. She rubbed her wrists, looking down as the blood smeared her hands.
"Chi-Chi?" A weak, surprised voice made Chi-Chi start. She looked into the shadows of the small room, her eyes widening in recognition.
"K-Karina!!"
---
"This is so pointless..." 18 yawned. She watched, bored, as Goku and Krillin, on hands and knees, closely inspected the parking lot pavement like dogs. She sighed and shook her head, sweat dropping. "I hope they don't get run over..."
She waved her hand toward her face. It was so hot...She mumbled and glanced across the street. Her attention perked as she noticed an ice cream store on the corner. "Hey guys, want some ice cream? I'm going to get some." They didn't seem to hear her. "...I suppose they are too absorbed in concentration to listen to the world around them." She rolled her eyes and walked right past them unnoticed, and stopped at the corner. She looked on as the walking sign changed from a red hand to a green walking figurine. 18 walked across the street on the crosswalk, then approached the ice cream store. She didn't notice the black car park next to the curb behind her.
---
"Karina!" Chi-Chi said in awe, as her thinner friend stood slowly on the other side of the room. Her hair was the same vibrant green. Chi-Chi trembled. That was the only bright thing about her. Her shocked face looked tired and worn, and even her always glistening eyes were dim. She was thin and looked slightly malnourished, her usual glowing skin pale and sun-deprived.
Suddenly tears glossed the eyes of the thin girl, and she trembled. "I'm s-so happy to see you...but they got you too...Oh no.."
Chi-Chi quickly went to Karina and wrapped her arms tightly around her in a hug. Karina clung to her. "Y-you're the first person I've t-touched in s-so long!" Karina sobbed. Chi-Chi held on to the boney, shaking form, feeling tears well up in her own eyes. "Oh, Karina..." She said softly, stroking her fine hair, noticing how unwashed and thin it was. "What have they done to you?"
---
Bulma stretched out and crossed her arms. She sighed as she leaned against the side of Piccolo's car. She had sat out this search, as Vegeta and Piccolo inspected the entire area of the grocery store, parking lot and all. Even the back ally. Bulma looked softly to the sky, frowning. She felt so alone...Where could Chi-Chi have gone? Why did they take her, too? She closed her eyes.
Piccolo mumbled and pulled open the dumpster lid, looking inside. "Nope."
Vegeta rolled his eyes, "What, you think they'd dump her in there?"
"Hell, they might of killed her and dropped her body off in the gutters for all we know.." Piccolo said coldly, looking down.
Vegeta swallowed. "No...I don't think they killed her..."
Piccolo sighed and leaned back against the side of the large dumpster bin. "Think whatever you want. It doesn't change the fact that you don't know shit about anything they've done. Believe me, it only helps a little while to comfort yourself with reassurances." He growled softly and pushed himself up to a standing position. "She's not here. She's not anywhere. This search is fruitless, not to mention pointless. We are all dumb asses."
Vegeta raised his brows, "Aren't you the positive one."
Piccolo scoffed loudly, "I've never been positive, and neither have you. Besides, it's a proven fact that pessimists live longer."
Vegeta blinked then smirked, "Oh really? How interesting."
"Yeah," Piccolo smirked wryly, "While all the optimists are looking on the bright side, they don't see what's in the shadows till it jumps out and bites them in the ass."
They both burst into loud laughter. A black cat titled it's head, watching them from behind the dumpster. It walked out to Vegeta, who blinked and stopped laughing immediately. The cat sniffed him curiously, then rubbed, purring, against his legs.
"Do you think a black cat rubbing against you is an omen that you are screwed?" Vegeta looked to Piccolo.
"Hell if I know."
The cat purred loudly, then gave a sudden jerk, making a coughing noise. Vegeta blinked twice. The cat coughed deeply and began wheezing loudly. He and Piccolo nervously exchanged glances. Vegeta was pondering about kicking it away, when suddenly it gave a final, great loud hack, and a wet, slimy hairball flew from it's mouth onto Vegeta's right shoe, sticking like glue. "AWW, DAMN!" Vegeta exclaimed, kicking his foot to attempt to remove the disgusting hairball. The cat meowed happily.
"Aww, dude...That cannot be a good sign." Piccolo snickered, trying not to laugh.
---
"Gah, there aren't any clues here," Krillin mumbled in defeat, standing up.
Goku sighed and nodded in agreement as he stood, still clutching Chi-Chi's purse.
"Let's go, 18, there's nothing here." Krillin called, then blinked as he looked about. 18 was no where in sight. "18?"
Goku blinked and looked around. Krillin's heart skipped a beat. "Oh, no..."
---
"Well, that was completely and utterly a waste of time," Piccolo concluded as they walked around to the front of the parking lot. "Except I laughed the hardest I have in months, besides the other night. Seeing that cat deem you as doomed with that oh mighty hairball was so funny I thought I'd wet myself.
Vegeta shook his head, mumbling, "You are easily amused. And anyway, that wasn't that much of a waste of time, at least we are covering more ground so we know for sure that we've checked out places. There isn't much else we can do, anyways."
Piccolo mumbled, "Still a waste of time."
"You really are pessimistic, aren't you?"
"Yep, and I'll outlive you all because of it."
"Heh."
They reached the car. "Where'd Bulma get to?" Piccolo asked, looking inside. She wasn't in the front or back seat.
"Probably ran into the store to get something. I'll get her." Vegeta took off into the store. About five minutes later he ran out to Piccolo, who bobbed his head to the music on the radio as he sat in the front seat, face flushed red and breath short.
"She's gone!"
---
18 stumbled into the small room, wincing as she rubbed her recently-freed wrists. She blinked, looking at Karina and Chi-Chi in shock.
"Oh my god, I was the next victim." She mumbled, staring at them in disbelief.
Karina and Chi-Chi looked at one another.
---
"LET ME GO!" Bulma screamed in rage, struggling as hard as she could in the grips of the suited men. "Do you know who I am!? When I get out of this, I will sue you for every PENNY you have! You won't have a damn DIME left when I'm done with-"
"Ms. Briefs," A deep voice made her jump. She looked across the seat of the dark limousine to see a man, hands folded over his lap calmly, looking at her. "Before you start making accusations and threats, it might be wise to know who you are dealing with, and also the fact that you will even "get out of this." So for now, if you want a chance of surviving, it would be most wise to shut the hell up and enjoy the ride."
Bulma fell silent.
---
I'm gonna stop there! Muahaha! Suspense! Review please! It gives me inspiration. Thanks!